WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When it comes to priorities, many polls suggest Americans want President-elect Barack Obama to fix the economy first when he enters the Oval Office in a little more than two months.

"Between now and inauguration, every group in the country is going to lay down their marker as to what they think should be done, what they need, what they want and how they got him elected," Rothenberg said, adding, "This is a very fine line with various constituencies. Everybody wants a piece of Barack Obama."

David Gergen, an adviser to four presidents, including Clinton, sees that move as a stumble that distracted Clinton from accomplishing his agenda.

"Bill Clinton, as talented as he was, and he was enormously talented, came in with some uncertainty about where to go each week, each month, and there was a certain amount of flailing," Gergen said, also a CNN senior political analyst.

"He lost his footing; he regained it later on, but his start was not as clean. It's really important to hit the ground running as president if you want to accomplish a lot," Gergen added.